Kenya Airways (KQ) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the only African airline actively supporting the development of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
This recognition coincides with the national carrier receiving the Most Impactful Breakthrough award for pioneering the use of SAF on a long-haul flight from Africa to Europe in October 2023. This pilot flight was instrumental in generating valuable data and insights that will inform future policy decisions, regulatory frameworks, and industry best practices.
Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka highlighted the airline’s crucial role in developing the registry. “By playing a crucial role in the development of the registry, KQ contributes significantly to building trust and confidence in SAF as a viable solution for minimizing aviation’s environmental impact,” he said.
SAF is expected to play a critical role in the aviation industry’s efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, potentially accounting for up to 65% of the total carbon mitigation needed. The SAF registry, set to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2025, will enable airlines worldwide to purchase sustainable aviation fuel regardless of where it is produced. This system will ensure that airlines can confidently claim the environmental benefits of the SAF they purchase for regulatory compliance.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said: “SAF is key to aviation’s decarbonization,” he stated. “Airlines want more SAF and stand ready to use every drop of it. The SAF Registry will help meet the critical needs of all stakeholders as part of the global effort to ramp up SAF production.”
Walsh also stressed the need for a trusted system to track SAF quality and quantities. He noted that governments require such a system to monitor SAF use accurately. “SAF producers need to accurately account for what has been delivered and effectively decarbonized. Corporate customers must also be able to transparently account for their Scope 3 emissions. And airlines must have certainty that they can claim the environmental benefits of the SAF they purchased,” he reiterated.
The development of the registry is supported in a pilot phase by seventeen national airlines, including the IAG airline group, six national authorities, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Airbus, Boeing, and GE Aerospace, and fuel producer World Energy. These collaborations aim to ensure compliance with civil aviation regulations such as ICAO’s CORSIA scheme and the EU ETS, as well as to provide transparency regarding emissions reductions.
With a strong focus on compliance, transparency, and government collaboration, the SAF registry is poised to establish a robust and accountable system that accelerates the use of sustainable aviation fuel. This initiative marks a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the aviation industry.
